How To Think Like a Product Owner in 2017

It’s official. Software has eaten the world, just like Marc Andreessen predicted. No matter where you turn, you will find software products and solutions. Sometimes they’re amazing and the perfect solution. Sometimes…not so much.

Either way, in 2017 more people will begin to focus on product development and building great products. After all, if you’re in business, software can solve a lot of problems.

But, what does that mean? Is it enough to know how to operate software? Or do you need to go to software school and learn to code?

Thankfully, there’s always a middle ground. We love product at Centresource, and we know that in the next year more business owners will need to grow their understanding of how software works. So, we asked around the office and got some great recommendations for you to learn more about product ownership.

Web Content

What better place to learn about software development than on the web? There are a few great product blogs out there, but we love these two. Even if you don’t want to be a full time product manager, you can pick up a lot of tips from these experts.

Mike Fishbein interviews product experts from across the technology spectrum. Recent topics include the Internet of Things, product validation, and venture capital. Sign up for the newsletter so you don’t miss a post.

Run by the team behind Product Tank, this site is a wealth of great product content. Their manifesto? To further the craft of product management by bringing together product people of all stripes. We love it!

Centresource Posts

And, of course, we’ve also written about product a lot. Here are some of our best posts:

In Person

Okay, reading and listening is great, but sometimes you just want to talk to real people. Nashville has some great product and UX meetups, where people in all stages of interest get together and discuss product topics. Think Homebrew, but in Nashville.

Nashville Product Meetup–Empowers product people to own the things they know. A monthly meetup with presentations, networking and discussions about product development, management and marketing. If you manage an existing product, are a product owner, are developing a product, or are marketing a product… this is for you.

Nashville Agile User Group–If you’re interested in the development process (or already a developer) don’t miss this group. It focuses on promoting the values and practices of Agile development and is a great place to learn and network.

Design Thinking Nashville—Have an interest in design thinking? Looking for support in innovation or improving the culture of work? This group is for you.

Want more product talk? Need to consult about potential product options for your company or startup? Drop us a line and request a free consultation. Our product experts love this stuff!